Brunswick County, NC

This county of 183,943 residents needs 24,073 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
183,943 (2026)
Households
76,300
Median household income
$86,945 (2026)
Typical home value
$427,397
Owner-occupied
59%
Five-year housing need
24,073 units

Comparison to other North Carolina counties

Brunswick County: $86,945 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$45K >$102K
Brunswick County: 0.55 jobs to household ratio
<0.27 >1.4
Brunswick County: Permits since 2021 represent 27.6% of housing
<0.3% >18.2%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

The typical home in Brunswick County, NC is valued at $427,397, well above the North Carolina average of $264,457. With a median household income of $86,945 in Brunswick County, NC, housing costs are a modest stretch for the typical household.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Brunswick County, NC has a population of roughly 152,568 and is one of the faster-growing communities in its state, adding residents at 3.4% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Brunswick County, NC is one of the faster-growing communities in North Carolina, adding households at 3.4% per year and totaling roughly 76,300 households.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

In Brunswick County, NC, detached single-family accounts for 69% of the housing stock. Homeownership is the norm in Brunswick County, NC, with 59% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Brunswick County, NC needs 24,073 new units over the next 5 years.

22,954
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
30.1%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 76,300 in 2026 to 99,254 in 2031.
1,119
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
854
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.7 per 1,000 units.
265
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 1.1%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
24,073
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
4,815
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
24.3%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
4.9%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?